Impatiens plant named ‘DANCEL877’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘DANCEL877’, characterized by its light pink-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Impatiens Hawkeri.

Variety denomination: ‘DANCEL877’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofImpatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens Hawkeri and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘DANCEL877’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel during December 2004. The objective of thebreeding program was the development of Impatiens cultivars withnumerous large flowers, excellent basal branching, and a compact-moundedgrowth habit.

The new Impatiens cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary ImpatiensHawkeri breeding selection designated NG-4-4773, not patented,characterized by its pink and magenta bicolored flowers, mediumgreen-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growthhabit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietaryImpatiens Hawkeri breeding selection designated H-218, not patented,characterized by its white and magenta bicolored flowers, mediumgreen-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growthhabit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollinationduring July 2005 in a controlled environment at Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceJuly 2005 at Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘DANCEL877’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Light pink-colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and maleparents primarily in flower color.

Of the many commercially available Impatiens cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is HARMONY Pink Smile ‘Danhar267’, notpatented However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of ‘Danhar267’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from        plants of ‘Danhar267’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a stem color different from        plants of ‘Danhar267’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘DANCEL877’. Theplants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 10 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘DANCEL877’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘DANCEL877’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in June 2009 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 10 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures weremaintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) duringthe day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during thenight. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandleswere maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens Hawkeri cultivar DANCEL877.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens Hawkeri breeding            selection designated NG-4-4773, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens Hawkeri breeding            selection designated H-218, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 24            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            compact, and mounded growth habit.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 15.8 cm. Width: Approximately 27.4 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Quantity of main            branches per plant: Approximately 6.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 10.3 cm.            Diameter at central internode: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length            of central internode: Approximately 3.1 cm. Texture:            Glabrous. Color of young and mature stems: 144A with a heavy            overlay of 185A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 9. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement:            In whorls of 3 to 5 leaves.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem and            leaf blade is perpendicular to stem. Shape: Elliptic.            Margin: Serrate, ciliate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate.            Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf at center            of stem: Approximately 10.9 cm. Width of mature leaf at            center of stem: Approximately 3.7 cm. Texture of upper            surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely            pubescent on venation. Color of upper surface of young            foliage: Closest to 139A with venation of 145C and a faint            overlay of 185C on lower half of midvein. Color of lower            surface of young foliage: Closest to N138B with venation of            185A. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to            139A with venation of 145C and a faint overlay of 185C at            leaf base. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: Closest            to N138B with venation of 185B.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145C with an            overlay of 185B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘DANCEL877’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            5 to 7 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single. Quantity per plant:            Approximately 12. Fragrance: None.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity            showing color per plant: Approximately 5.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately            2.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.5 cm. Color: 67B.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Round, cupped when first open with petals            turning downward with age. Width: Approximately 7.0 cm.            Depth: Approximately 2.1 cm. Borne: Above and below foliage.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Obovate. Aspect: Flat.            Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate.            Base of upper petal: Truncate. Base of lateral and lower            petals: Attenuate. Length of upper petal: Approximately            2.9 cm. Width of upper petal: Approximately 5.1 cm. Length            of lateral petals: Approximately 3.3 cm. Width of lateral            petals: Approximately 3.8 cm. Length of lower petals:            Approximately 3.8 cm. Width of lower petals: Approximately            4.2 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color            of upper surface when first and fully open: N155B blushed            with 68B giving the petal a light pink appearance; lateral            and lower petals have an overlay of 41B at petal apex and an            “eye” of 61A. Color of lower surface when first and fully            open: 68C; lateral and lower petals have 41C at petal center            and apex.        -   Spur.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: Approximately 4.7 cm.            Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at            distal end: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color:            185A with 187A at tip.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.            Length: Approximately 5.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately            2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 185A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4 with one fused to base of            upper petal. Shape of lateral sepals: Ovate. Shape of lower            sepal: Ovate. Apex of all sepals: Acuminate. Length of            lateral sepals: Approximately 1.5 cm. Width of lateral            sepals: Approximately 7.0 mm. Length of lower sepal:            Approximately 1.8 cm. Width of lower sepal: Approximately            1.5 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces of all sepals:            Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces of lateral            sepals: 144A with a heavy overlay of 185A. Color of upper            and lower surfaces of lower sepal: N155B blushed with 41C;            144A at tip.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per            flower, fused around pistil at apex. Anther shape: Hooded.            Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 158D.            Filament color: N57B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:            155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil            length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Stigma shape: 5-pointed star.            Stigma color: Colorless, transparent. Style color: 144A.            Ovary texture: Glabrous. Ovary color: 144A with an overlay            of 187A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Impatiens has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘DANCEL877’,substantially as herein shown and described.